White - Chardonnay

This vintage was sourced from a variety of vineyards in the Sonoma Coast including both of the single vineyard sites, Heintz and Bohemian. These vineyards tended to deliver fully developed flavors at relatively high natural acidities, giving them remarkable length and verve. These vineyards tended to deliver fully developed flavors at relatively high natural acidity, giving remarkable length and verve. This wine leans towards orchard fruit showing both apple and pear but also hints of tropical fruits and vanilla bean. In the mouth the wine is moderate weight but packs extraordinary depth of flavor, echoing the aroma with fuji apple, meyer lemon, sage and vanilla panna cotta. The finish is all energy with mouthwatering citrus notes.

This wine is marked by lively green apple and citrus flavors accompanied by zesty acidity, ending clean and complex. A nice refreshing Chardonnay for any occasion. Dehlinger has long been recognized for its Russian River Valley Chardonnays, which are known for their balance, fresh acidity, and unctuous flavor.

Dehlinger produces a single Estate Chardonnay bottling each vintage, originating from eight acres of Chardonnay vines planted between 1975 and 1988. These old vines, grown in the region’s classic Goldridge series soils, are grafted to the California heritage “Wente” clone, which produces small clusters and berries and has a notable minerality and almost oily viscosity.

Dehlinger’s Chardonnays are crafted using traditional techniques which preserve the flavor and elegance of the variety. At harvest, the grapes are picked at night, brought cold into the winery and “whole cluster pressed” to extract the highest quality juice. From there, the juice is fermented in French oak barrels using native yeasts. The wine gains further complexity through malolactic fermentation and a year of aging on the lees. Dehlinger has been bottling its Chardonnays “Unfiltered” since the late 1990s in order to capture the full flavor potential and most pleasing texture possible.

The 2019 Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay offers subtle aromas of jasmine flower, citrus oil, green apple and pear. The elegant aromatics are complemented by fresh kiwi, lemon drop and green apple flavors. The fruit focused mid-palate is followed by subtle mineral notes and a hint of crystallized ginger in the finish.

“The 2019 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was 100% barrel fermented in French oak barrels, 26% new, and aged for 9.5 months. It slips slowly, cautiously out of the glass with crushed rocks and sea spray scents over a core of green and yellow apples and Bosc pears plus a hint of marzipan. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with apple and pear flavors with a racy backbone and savory finish.” Wine Advocate – 91 Points

The Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2019 displays intense notes of grapefruit, green guava, mango and pineapple with nuances of talc, oyster shells and fresh ginger. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and super intense with tightly wound layers of citrus and tropical fruits and bags of mineral notions on the especially long finish.

One of La Crema’s most treasured estate vineyards, Kelli Ann, sits a stone’s throw away from the meandering and picturesque Russian River. Enjoying abundant sunshine, foggy mornings, and cool nights this vineyard yields wine with both dimension and concentration. On the nose hints of lemon curd, fresh nectarine, and nutmeg followed by flavors of Meyer Lemon, white peach, and hints of crème brûlée on the palate. Overall the 2017 vintage has great concentration and an elegant finish.